WA legislation would set minimum hunting age at 14 (W/O Adult Supervision)

[The Straight Story]

Washington legislation would set minimum hunting age at 14


OLYMPIA — Fourteen would be the minimum age for a hunter in Washington without adult supervision under legislation introduced by Rep. Brian Blake of Aberdeen.

At a hearing Thursday in Olympia others recommended minimum ages of 16 or 18.

Last August a woman hiking in Skagit County was killed by a 14-year-old hunter who mistook her for a bear.

The Seattle Times reports that 14 had been the minimum age until 1994 when it apparently was inadvertently deleted from state law.

http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/01/24/breaking_news/doc4979eb670050d283565975.txt

[glowing]

1. I don't think it would have mattered the age of the hunter in mistaking the

bear for the woman. During hunting season, one must take precautions and where some bright clothing as to identify yourself. I lived in VT, and every fall, my mom would throw bright red bandanas on our head and tie one around our leg so some wayward hunter would't mistake us for some kind of game and shoot us. You notice most hunting stores carry some kind of ugly bright orange hat or gloves along with the camoflauge gear... its to keep them safe from other hunters. 14 doesn't seem to young to me. If you are an avid hunter family, you are taught very young how to shoot and how to handle weapons.

[LiberalFighter]

2. 14 is too young to be hunting without adult supervision. PERIOD

IMO 18 should be the absolute minimum. That is without supervision.

There should also be a minimum one can be allowed to hunt. And it should also be restricted as to what they could hunt. Such as 18 for hunting bear or other big animals. Lower for pheasant, squirrel, etc.

[oldnslo]

5. Amen, positively, absolutely. 14 is waaaay too young w/o adult.

[anonymous171]

6. I think that would be too hard to enforce.

How do you determine whether or not the 15 year old was out hunting bear or squirrel?

[LiberalFighter]

9. By whether they have a license just like adults need. If needed.

[Blue_In_AK]

3. My own brother was killed in a hunting accident when he was 14.

He set the rifle against a fence as he climbed over, and it went off, shooting him in the head. It wasn't unusual for my brothers to go squirrel hunting when they were kids (we ate the squirrels) -- this was back in the '50s in rural Ohio -- but I have to believe that had an adult been with him, this accident wouldn't have happened. I don't blame my parents or grandparents, though -- this is just how we were raised.

I think these days people are more enlightened.

[Ian David]

4. In defense of the kid who mistook the woman for a bear...

[madmom]

7. NEVER ever ever ever shoot unless you are absolutely 100% positive of your target!!!!!

[DavidDvorkin]

8. I'd set it at 250.